Noonewasimpertinent。Wecouldcatchquiteabitofthetalknow，andalltheysaidseemedpleasantenough。
　　Well——beforenightfallwewereallsafelybackinourbigroom。
　　Thedamagewehaddonewasquiteignored;thebedsassmoothandcomfortableasbefore，newclothingandtowelssupplied。Theonlythingthosewomendidwastoilluminatethegardensatnight，andtosetanextrawatch。Buttheycalledustoaccountnextday。
　　Ourthreetutors，whohadnotjoinedintherecapturingexpedition，hadbeenquitebusyinpreparingforus，andnowmadeexplanation。
　　Theyknewwellwewouldmakeforourmachine，andalsothattherewasnootherwayofgettingdown——alive。Soourflighthadtroublednoone;alltheydidwastocalltheinhabitantstokeepaneyeonourmovementsallalongtheedgeoftheforestbetweenthetwopoints。Itappearedthatmanyofthosenightswehadbeenseen，bycarefulladiessittingsnuglyinbigtreesbytheriverbed，orupamongtherocks。
　　Terrylookedimmenselydisgusted，butitstruckmeasextremelyfunny。Herewehadbeenriskingourlives，hidingandprowlinglikeoutlaws，livingonnutsandfruit，gettingwetandcoldatnight，anddryandhotbyday，andallthewhiletheseestimablewomenhadjustbeenwaitingforustocomeout。
　　Nowtheybegantoexplain，carefullyusingsuchwordsaswecouldunderstand。Itappearedthatwewereconsideredasguestsofthecountry——sortofpublicwards。Ourfirstviolencehadmadeitnecessarytokeepussafeguardedforawhile，butassoonaswelearnedthelanguage——andwouldagreetodonoharm——theywouldshowusallabouttheland。
　　Jeffwaseagertoreassurethem。OfcoursehedidnottellonTerry，buthemadeitclearthathewasashamedofhimself，andthathewouldnowconform。Astothelanguage——weallfelluponitwithredoubledenergy。Theybroughtusbooks，ingreaternumbers，andIbegantostudythemseriously。
　　"Prettypunkliterature，"Terryburstforthoneday，whenwewereintheprivacyofourownroom。"Ofcourseoneexpectstobeginonchild—stories，butIwouldlikesomethingmoreinterestingnow。"
　　"Can’texpectstirringromanceandwildadventurewithoutmen，canyou？"Iasked。NothingirritatedTerrymorethantohaveusassumethattherewerenomen;buttherewerenosignsoftheminthebookstheygaveus，orthepictures。
　　"Shutup！"hegrowled。"Whatinfernalnonsenseyoutalk！
　　I’mgoingtoask’emoutright——weknowenoughnow。"
　　Intruthwehadbeenusingourbesteffortstomasterthelanguage，andwereabletoreadfluentlyandtodiscusswhatwereadwithconsiderableease。
　　Thatafternoonwewereallsittingtogetherontheroof——wethreeandthetutorsgatheredaboutatable，noguardsabout。Wehadbeenmadetounderstandsometimeearlierthatifwewouldagreetodonoviolencetheywouldwithdrawtheirconstantattendance，andwepromisedmostwillingly。
　　Sotherewesat，atease;allinsimilardress;ourhair，bynow，aslongastheirs，onlyourbeardstodistinguishus。Wedidnotwantthosebeards，buthadsofarbeenunabletoinducethemtogiveusanycuttinginstruments。
　　"Ladies，"Terrybegan，outofaclearsky，asitwere，"aretherenomeninthiscountry？"
　　"Men？"Somelanswered。"Likeyou？"
　　"Yes，men，"Terryindicatedhisbeard，andthrewbackhisbroadshoulders。"Men，realmen。"
　　"No，"sheansweredquietly。"Therearenomeninthiscountry。
　　Therehasnotbeenamanamongusfortwothousandyears。"
　　Herlookwasclearandtruthfulandshedidnotadvancethisastonishingstatementasifitwasastonishing，butquiteasamatteroffact。
　　"But——thepeople——thechildren，"heprotested，notbelievingherintheleast，butnotwishingtosayso。
　　"Ohyes，"shesmiled。"Idonotwonderyouarepuzzled。
　　Wearemothers——allofus——buttherearenofathers。Wethoughtyouwouldaskaboutthatlongago——whyhaveyounot？"Herlookwasasfranklykindasalways，hertonequitesimple。
　　Terryexplainedthatwehadnotfeltsufficientlyusedtothelanguage，makingratheramessofit，Ithought，butJeffwasfranker。
　　"Willyouexcuseusall，"hesaid，"ifweadmitthatwefindithardtobelieve？Thereisnosuch——possibility——intherestoftheworld。"
　　"Haveyounokindoflifewhereitispossible？"askedZava。
　　"Why，yes——somelowforms，ofcourse。"
　　"Howlow——orhowhigh，rather？"
　　"Well——therearesomeratherhighformsofinsectlifeinwhichitoccurs。Parthenogenesis，wecallit——thatmeansvirginbirth。"
　　Shecouldnotfollowhim。
　　"BIRTH，weknow，ofcourse;butwhatisVIRGIN？"
　　Terrylookeduncomfortable，butJeffmetthequestionquitecalmly。"Amongmatinganimals，thetermVIRGINisappliedtothefemalewhohasnotmated，"heanswered。
　　"Oh，Isee。Anddoesitapplytothemalealso？Oristhereadifferenttermforhim？"
　　Hepassedthisoverratherhurriedly，sayingthatthesametermwouldapply，butwasseldomused。
　　"No？"shesaid。"Butonecannotmatewithouttheothersurely。
　　Isnoteachthen——virgin——beforemating？And，tellme，haveyouanyformsoflifeinwhichthereisbirthfromafatheronly？"
　　"Iknowofnone，"heanswered，andIinquiredseriously。
　　"Youaskustobelievethatfortwothousandyearstherehavebeenonlywomenhere，andonlygirlbabiesborn？"
　　"Exactly，"answeredSomel，noddinggravely。"Ofcourseweknowthatamongotheranimalsitisnotso，thattherearefathersaswellasmothers;andweseethatyouarefathers，thatyoucomefromapeoplewhoareofbothkinds。Wehavebeenwaiting，yousee，foryoutobeabletospeakfreelywithus，andteachusaboutyourcountryandtherestoftheworld。Youknowsomuch，yousee，andweknowonlyourownland。"
　　Inthecourseofourpreviousstudieswehadbeenatsomepainstotellthemaboutthebigworldoutside，todrawsketches，maps，tomakeaglobe，even，outofasphericalfruit，andshowthesizeandrelationofthecountries，andtotellofthenumbersoftheirpeople。Allthishadbeenscantandinoutline，buttheyquiteunderstood。
　　IfindIsucceedverypoorlyinconveyingtheimpressionI
　　wouldliketoofthesewomen。Sofarfrombeingignorant，theyweredeeplywise——thatwerealizedmoreandmore;andforclearreasoning，forrealbrainscopeandpowertheywereANo。1，buttherewerealotofthingstheydidnotknow。
　　Theyhadtheevenesttempers，themostperfectpatienceandgoodnature——oneofthethingsmostimpressiveaboutthemallwastheabsenceofirritability。Sofarwehadonlythisgrouptostudy，butafterwardIfounditacommontrait。
　　Wehadgraduallycometofeelthatwewereinthehandsoffriends，andverycapableonesatthat——butwecouldn’tformanyopinionyetofthegenerallevelofthesewomen。
　　"Wewantyoutoteachusallyoucan，"Somelwenton，herfirmshapelyhandsclaspedonthetablebeforeher，herclearquieteyesmeetingoursfrankly。"Andwewanttoteachyouwhatwehavethatisnovelanduseful。Youcanwellimaginethatitisawonderfuleventtous，tohavemenamongus——aftertwothousandyears。Andwewanttoknowaboutyourwomen。"
　　WhatshesaidaboutourimportancegaveinstantpleasuretoTerry。
　　Icouldseebythewayheliftedhisheadthatitpleasedhim。Butwhenshespokeofourwomen——somewayIhadaqueerlittleindescribablefeeling，notlikeanyfeelingIeverhadbeforewhen"women"werementioned。
　　"Willyoutellushowitcameabout？"Jeffpursued。"Yousaid`fortwothousandyears’——didyouhavemenherebeforethat？"
　　"Yes，"answeredZava。
　　Theywereallquietforalittle。
　　"Youshouldhaveourfullhistorytoread——donotbealarmed——ithasbeenmadeclearandshort。Ittookusalongtimetolearnhowtowritehistory。Oh，howIshouldlovetoreadyours！"
　　Sheturnedwithflashingeagereyes，lookingfromonetotheotherofus。
　　"Itwouldbesowonderful——woulditnot？Tocomparethehistoryoftwothousandyears，toseewhatthedifferencesare——
　　betweenus，whoareonlymothers，andyou，whoaremothersandfathers，too。Ofcoursewesee，withourbirds，thatthefatherisasusefulasthemother，almost。Butamonginsectswefindhimoflessimportance，sometimesverylittle。Isitnotsowithyou？"
　　"Oh，yes，birdsandbugs，"Terrysaid，"butnotamonganimals——
　　haveyouNOanimals？"
　　"Wehavecats，"shesaid。"Thefatherisnotveryuseful。"
　　"Haveyounocattle——sheep——horses？"Idrewsomeroughoutlinesofthesebeastsandshowedthemtoher。
　　"Wehad，intheveryolddays，these，"saidSomel，andsketchedwithswiftsuretouchesasortofsheeporllama，"andthese"——dogs，oftwoorthreekinds，"thatthat"——pointingtomyabsurdbutrecognizablehorse。
　　"Whatbecameofthem？"askedJeff。
　　"Wedonotwantthemanymore。Theytookuptoomuchroom——weneedallourlandtofeedourpeople。Itissuchalittlecountry，youknow。"
　　"Whateverdoyoudowithoutmilk？"Terrydemandedincredulously。
　　"MILK？Wehavemilkinabundance——ourown。"
　　"But——but——Imeanforcooking——forgrownpeople，"Terryblundered，whiletheylookedamazedandashadedispleased。
　　Jeffcametotherescue。"Wekeepcattlefortheirmilk，aswellasfortheirmeat，"heexplained。"Cow’smilkisastaplearticleofdiet。
　　Thereisagreatmilkindustry——tocollectanddistributeit。"
　　Stilltheylookedpuzzled。Ipointedtomyoutlineofacow。
　　"Thefarmermilksthecow，"Isaid，andsketchedamilkpail，thestool，andinpantomimeshowedthemanmilking。"Thenitiscarriedtothecityanddistributedbymilkmen——everybodyhasitatthedoorinthemorning。"
　　"Hasthecownochild？"askedSomelearnestly。
　　"Oh，yes，ofcourse，acalf，thatis。"
　　"Istheremilkforthecalfandyou，too？"
　　Ittooksometimetomakecleartothosethreesweet—facedwomentheprocesswhichrobsthecowofhercalf，andthecalfofitstruefood;andthetalkledusintoafurtherdiscussionofthemeatbusiness。Theyhearditout，lookingverywhite，andpresentlybeggedtobeexcused。
　　CHAPTER5
　　AUniqueHistoryItisnouseformetotrytopieceoutthisaccountwithadventures。Ifthepeoplewhoreaditarenotinterestedintheseamazingwomenandtheirhistory，theywillnotbeinterestedatall。
　　Asforus——threeyoungmentoawholelandfulofwomen——
　　whatcouldwedo？Wedidgetaway，asdescribed，andwerepeacefullybroughtbackagainwithout，asTerrycomplained，eventhesatisfactionofhittinganybody。
　　Therewerenoadventuresbecausetherewasnothingtofight。
　　Therewerenowildbeastsinthecountryandveryfewtameones。
　　OftheseImightaswellstoptodescribetheonecommonpetofthecountry。Cats，ofcourse。Butsuchcats！
　　WhatdoyousupposetheseLadyBurbankshaddonewiththeircats？Bythemostprolongedandcarefulselectionandexclusiontheyhaddevelopedaraceofcatsthatdidnotsing！
　　That’safact。Themostthosepoordumbbrutescoulddowastomakeakindofsqueakwhentheywerehungryorwantedthedooropen，and，ofcourse，topurr，andmakethevariousmother—noisestotheirkittens。
　　Moreover，theyhadceasedtokillbirds。Theywererigorouslybredtodestroymiceandmolesandallsuchenemiesofthefoodsupply;
　　butthebirdswerenumerousandsafe。
　　Whilewewerediscussingbirds，Terryaskedthemiftheyusedfeathersfortheirhats，andtheyseemedamusedattheidea。
　　Hemadeafewsketchesofourwomen’shats，withplumesandquillsandthosevariousticklingthingsthatstickoutsofar;andtheywereeagerlyinterested，asateverythingaboutourwomen。
　　Asforthem，theysaidtheyonlyworehatsforshadewhenworkinginthesun;andthosewerebiglightstrawhats，somethinglikethoseusedinChinaandJapan。Incoldweathertheyworecapsorhoods。
　　"Butfordecorativepurposes——don’tyouthinktheywouldbebecoming？"pursuedTerry，makingasprettyapictureashecouldofaladywithaplumedhat。
　　Theybynomeansagreedtothat，askingquitesimplyifthemenworethesamekind。Wehastenedtoassureherthattheydidnot——drewforthemourkindofheadgear。
　　"Anddonomenwearfeathersintheirhats？"
　　"OnlyIndians，"Jeffexplained。"Savages，youknow。"Andhesketchedawarbonnettoshowthem。
　　"Andsoldiers，"Iadded，drawingamilitaryhatwithplumes。
　　Theyneverexpressedhorrorordisapproval，norindeedmuchsurprise——
　　justakeeninterest。Andthenotestheymade！——milesofthem！
　　Buttoreturntoourpussycats。Wewereagooddealimpressedbythisachievementinbreeding，andwhentheyquestionedus——Icantellyouwewerewellpumpedforinformation——wetoldofwhathadbeendonefordogsandhorsesandcattle，butthattherewasnoeffortappliedtocats，exceptforshowpurposes。
　　IwishIcouldrepresentthekind，quiet，steady，ingeniouswaytheyquestionedus。Itwasnotjustcuriosity——theyweren’tabitmorecuriousaboutusthanwewereaboutthem，ifasmuch。Buttheywerebentonunderstandingourkindofcivilization，andtheirlinesofinterrogationwouldgraduallysurroundusanddriveusintillwefoundourselvesupagainstsomeadmissionswedidnotwanttomake。
　　"Areallthesebreedsofdogsyouhavemadeuseful？"theyasked。
　　"Oh——useful！Why，thehuntingdogsandwatchdogsandsheepdogsareuseful——andsleddogsofcourse！——andratters，I
　　suppose，butwedon’tkeepdogsfortheirUSEFULNESS。Thedogis`thefriendofman，’wesay——welovethem。"
　　Thattheyunderstood。"Weloveourcatsthatway。
　　Theysurelyareourfriends，andhelpers，too。Youcanseehowintelligentandaffectionatetheyare。"
　　Itwasafact。I’dneverseensuchcats，exceptinafewrareinstances。Big，handsomesilkythings，friendlywitheveryoneanddevotedlyattachedtotheirspecialowners。
　　"Youmusthaveaheartbreakingtimedrowningkittens，"wesuggested。Buttheysaid，"Oh，no！Youseewecareforthemasyoudoforyourvaluablecattle。Thefathersarefewcomparedtothemothers，justafewveryfineonesineachtown;theylivequitehappilyinwalledgardensandthehousesoftheirfriends。
　　Buttheyonlyhaveamatingseasononceayear。"
　　"RatherhardonThomas，isn’tit？"suggestedTerry。
　　"Oh，no——truly！Yousee，itismanycenturiesthatwehavebeenbreedingthekindofcatswewanted。Theyarehealthyandhappyandfriendly，asyousee。Howdoyoumanagewithyourdogs？
　　Doyoukeeptheminpairs，orsegregatethefathers，orwhat？"
　　Thenweexplainedthat——well，thatitwasn’taquestionoffathersexactly;thatnobodywanteda——amotherdog;that，well，thatpracticallyallourdogsweremales——therewasonlyaverysmallpercentageoffemalesallowedtolive。
　　ThenZava，observingTerrywithhergravesweetsmile，quotedbackathim："RatherhardonThomas，isn’tit？Dotheyenjoyit——livingwithoutmates？Areyourdogsasuniformlyhealthyandsweet—temperedasourcats？"
　　Jefflaughed，eyeingTerrymischievously。AsamatteroffactwebegantofeelJeffsomethingofatraitor——hesooftenfloppedoverandtooktheirsideofthings;alsohismedicalknowledgegavehimadifferentpointofviewsomehow。
　　"I’msorrytoadmit，"hetoldthem，"thatthedog，withus，isthemostdiseasedofanyanimal——nexttoman。Andastotemper——therearealwayssomedogswhobitepeople——especiallychildren。"
　　Thatwaspuremalice。Yousee，childrenwerethe——theRAISON
　　D’ETREinthiscountry。Allourinterlocutorssatupstraightatonce。
　　Theywerestillgentle，stillrestrained，buttherewasanoteofdeepamazementintheirvoices。
　　"Doweunderstandthatyoukeepananimal——anunmatedmaleanimal——
　　thatbiteschildren？Abouthowmanyarethereofthem，please？"
　　"Thousands——inalargecity，"saidJeff，"andnearlyeveryfamilyhasoneinthecountry。"
　　Terrybrokeinatthis。"Youmustnotimaginetheyarealldangerous——it’snotoneinahundredthateverbitesanybody。
　　Why，theyarethebestfriendsofthechildren——aboydoesn’thavehalfachancethathasn’tadogtoplaywith！"
　　"Andthegirls？"askedSomel。
　　"Oh——girls——whytheylikethemtoo，"hesaid，buthisvoiceflattedalittle。Theyalwaysnoticedlittlethingslikethat，wefoundlater。
　　Littlebylittletheywrungfromusthefactthatthefriendofman，inthecity，wasaprisoner;wastakenoutforhismeagerexerciseonaleash;wasliablenotonlytomanydiseasesbuttotheonedestroyinghorrorofrabies;and，inmanycases，forthesafetyofthecitizens，hadtogomuzzled。Jeffmaliciouslyaddedvividinstanceshehadknownorreadofinjuryanddeathfrommaddogs。
　　Theydidnotscoldorfussaboutit。Calmasjudges，thosewomenwere。Buttheymadenotes;Moadinereadthemtous。
　　"PleasetellmeifIhavethefactscorrect，"shesaid。
　　"Inyourcountry——andinotherstoo？"
　　"Yes，"weadmitted，"inmostcivilizedcountries。"
　　"Inmostcivilizedcountriesakindofanimaliskeptwhichisnolongeruseful——"
　　"Theyareaprotection，"Terryinsisted。"Theybarkifburglarstrytogetin。"
　　Thenshemadenotesof"burglars"andwenton："becauseofthelovewhichpeoplebeartothisanimal。"
　　Zavainterruptedhere。"Isitthemenorthewomenwholovethisanimalsomuch？"
　　"Both！"insistedTerry。
　　"Equally？"sheinquired。
　　AndJeffsaid，"Nonsense，Terry——youknowmenlikedogsbetterthanwomendo——asawhole。"
　　"Becausetheyloveitsomuch——especiallymen。Thisanimaliskeptshutup，orchained。"
　　"Why？"suddenlyaskedSomel。"Wekeepourfathercatsshutupbecausewedonotwanttoomuchfathering;buttheyarenotchained——theyhavelargegroundstorunin。"
　　"Avaluabledogwouldbestolenifhewasletloose，"Isaid。
　　"Weputcollarsonthem，withtheowner’sname，incasetheydostray。Besides，theygetintofights——avaluabledogmighteasilybekilledbyabiggerone。"
　　"Isee，"shesaid。"Theyfightwhentheymeet——isthatcommon？"
　　Weadmittedthatitwas。
　　"Theyarekeptshutup，orchained。"Shepausedagain，andasked，"Isnotadogfondofrunning？Aretheynotbuiltforspeed？"
　　Thatweadmitted，too，andJeff，stillmalicious，enlightenedthemfurther。
　　"I’vealwaysthoughtitwasapatheticsight，bothways——toseeamanorawomantakingadogtowalk——attheendofastring。"
　　"Haveyoubredthemtobeasneatintheirhabitsascatsare？"
　　wasthenextquestion。AndwhenJefftoldthemoftheeffectofdogsonsidewalkmerchandiseandthestreetsgenerally，theyfoundithardtobelieve。
　　Yousee，theircountrywasasneatasaDutchkitchen，andastosanitation——butImightaswellstartinnowwithasmuchasIcanrememberofthehistoryofthisamazingcountrybeforefurtherdescription。
　　AndI’llsummarizehereabitastoouropportunitiesforlearningit。Iwillnottrytorepeatthecareful，detailedaccountIlost;I’lljustsaythatwewerekeptinthatfortressagoodsixmonthsalltold，andafterthat，threeinapleasantenoughcitywhere——toTerry’sinfinitedisgust——therewereonly"Colonels"
　　andlittlechildren——noyoungwomenwhatever。Thenwewereundersurveillanceforthreemore——alwayswithatutororaguardorboth。Butthosemonthswerepleasantbecausewewerereallygettingacquaintedwiththegirls。Thatwasachapter！——
　　orwillbe——Iwilltrytodojusticetoit。
　　Welearnedtheirlanguageprettythoroughly——hadto;andtheylearnedoursmuchmorequicklyandusedittohastenourownstudies。
　　Jeff，whowasneverwithoutreadingmatterofsomesort，hadtwolittlebookswithhim，anovelandalittleanthologyofverse;
　　andIhadoneofthosepocketencyclopedias——afatlittlething，burstingwithfacts。Thesewereusedinoureducation——andtheirs。
　　Thenassoonaswewereuptoit，theyfurnisheduswithplentyoftheirownbooks，andIwentinforthehistorypart——Iwantedtounderstandthegenesisofthismiracleoftheirs。
　　Andthisiswhathappened，accordingtotheirrecords。
　　Astogeography——ataboutthetimeoftheChristianerathislandhadafreepassagetothesea。I’mnotsayingwhere，forgoodreasons。Buttherewasafairlyeasypassthroughthatwallofmountainsbehindus，andthereisnodoubtinmymindthatthesepeoplewereofAryanstock，andwereonceincontactwiththebestcivilizationoftheoldworld。Theywere"white，"butsomewhatdarkerthanournorthernracesbecauseoftheirconstantexposuretosunandair。
　　Thecountrywasfarlargerthen，includingmuchlandbeyondthepass，andastripofcoast。Theyhadships，commerce，anarmy，aking——foratthattimetheywerewhattheysocalmlycalledus——abi—sexualrace。
　　Whathappenedtothemfirstwasmerelyasuccessionofhistoricmisfortunessuchashavebefallenothernationsoftenenough。Theyweredecimatedbywar，drivenupfromtheircoastlinetillfinallythereducedpopulation，withmanyofthemenkilledinbattle，occupiedthishinterland，anddefendeditforyears，inthemountainpasses。Whereitwasopentoanypossibleattackfrombelowtheystrengthenedthenaturaldefensessothatitbecameunscalablysecure，aswefoundit。
　　Theywereapolygamouspeople，andaslave—holdingpeople，likealloftheirtime;andduringthegenerationortwoofthisstruggletodefendtheirmountainhometheybuiltthefortresses，suchastheonewewereheldin，andotheroftheiroldestbuildings，somestillinuse。Nothingbutearthquakescoulddestroysucharchitecture——hugesolidblocks，holdingbytheirownweight。
　　Theymusthavehadefficientworkmenandenoughoftheminthosedays。
　　Theymadeabravefightfortheirexistence，butnonationcanstandupagainstwhatthesteamshipcompaniescall"anactofGod。"Whilethewholefightingforcewasdoingitsbesttodefendtheirmountainpathway，thereoccurredavolcanicoutburst，withsomelocaltremors，andtheresultwasthecompletefillingupofthepass——theironlyoutlet。Insteadofapassage，anewridge，sheerandhigh，stoodbetweenthemandthesea;theywerewalledin，andbeneaththatwalllaytheirwholelittlearmy。
　　Veryfewmenwereleftalive，savetheslaves;andthesenowseizedtheiropportunity，roseinrevolt，killedtheirremainingmasterseventotheyoungestboy，killedtheoldwomentoo，andthemothers，intendingtotakepossessionofthecountrywiththeremainingyoungwomenandgirls。
　　Butthissuccessionofmisfortuneswastoomuchforthoseinfuriatedvirgins。Thereweremanyofthem，andbutfewofthesewould—bemasters，sotheyoungwomen，insteadofsubmitting，roseinsheerdesperationandslewtheirbrutalconquerors。
　　ThissoundslikeTitusAndronicus，Iknow，butthatistheiraccount。Isupposetheywereaboutcrazy——canyoublamethem？
　　Therewasliterallynooneleftonthisbeautifulhighgardenlandbutabunchofhystericalgirlsandsomeolderslavewomen。
　　Thatwasabouttwothousandyearsago。
　　Atfirsttherewasaperiodofsheerdespair。Themountainstoweredbetweenthemandtheiroldenemies，butalsobetweenthemandescape。Therewasnowayupordownorout——theysimplyhadtostaythere。Somewereforsuicide，butnotthemajority。Theymusthavebeenapluckylot，asawhole，andtheydecidedtolive——aslongastheydidlive。Ofcoursetheyhadhope，asyouthmust，thatsomethingwouldhappentochangetheirfate。
　　Sotheysettowork，toburythedead，toplowandsow，tocareforoneanother。
　　Speakingofburyingthedead，IwillsetdownwhileIthinkofit，thattheyhadadoptedcremationinaboutthethirteenthcentury，forthesamereasonthattheyhadleftoffraisingcattle——theycouldnotsparetheroom。Theyweremuchsurprisedtolearnthatwewerestillburying——askedourreasonsforit，andweremuchdissatisfiedwithwhatwegave。Wetoldthemofthebeliefintheresurrectionofthebody，andtheyaskedifourGodwasnotaswellabletoresurrectfromashesasfromlongcorruption。
　　Wetoldthemofhowpeoplethoughtitrepugnanttohavetheirlovedonesburn，andtheyaskedifitwaslessrepugnanttohavethemdecay。
　　Theywereinconvenientlyreasonable，thosewomen。
　　Well——thatoriginalbunchofgirlssettoworktocleanuptheplaceandmaketheirlivingasbesttheycould。Someoftheremainingslavewomenrenderedinvaluableservice，teachingsuchtradesastheyknew。Theyhadsuchrecordsaswerethenkept，allthetoolsandimplementsofthetime，andamostfertilelandtoworkin。
　　Therewereahandfuloftheyoungermatronswhohadescapedslaughter，andafewbabieswerebornafterthecataclysm——butonlytwoboys，andtheybothdied。
　　Forfiveortenyearstheyworkedtogether，growingstrongerandwiserandmoreandmoremutuallyattached，andthenthemiraclehappened——oneoftheseyoungwomenboreachild。Ofcoursetheyallthoughttheremustbeamansomewhere，butnonewasfound。Thentheydecideditmustbeadirectgiftfromthegods，andplacedtheproudmotherintheTempleofMaaia——theirGoddessofMotherhood——understrictwatch。Andthere，asyearspassed，thiswonder—womanborechildafterchild，fiveofthem——allgirls。
　　Ididmybest，keenlyinterestedasIhavealwaysbeeninsociologyandsocialpsychology，toreconstructinmymindtherealpositionoftheseancientwomen。Thereweresomefiveorsixhundredofthem，andtheywereharem—bred;yetforthefewprecedinggenerationstheyhadbeenrearedintheatmosphereofsuchheroicstrugglethatthestockmusthavebeentoughenedsomewhat。Leftaloneinthatterrificorphanhood，theyhadclungtogether，supportingoneanotherandtheirlittlesisters，anddevelopingunknownpowersinthestressofnewnecessity。Tothispain—hardenedandwork—strengthenedgroup，whohadlostnotonlytheloveandcareofparents，butthehopeofeverhavingchildrenoftheirown，therenowdawnedthenewhope。
　　HereatlastwasMotherhood，andthoughitwasnotforallofthempersonally，itmight——ifthepowerwasinherited——foundhereanewrace。
　　ItmaybeimaginedhowthosefiveDaughtersofMaaia，ChildrenoftheTemple，MothersoftheFuture——theyhadallthetitlesthatloveandhopeandreverencecouldgive——werereared。
　　Thewholelittlenationofwomensurroundedthemwithlovingservice，andwaited，betweenaboundlesshopeandanequallyboundlessdespair，toseeifthey，too，wouldbemothers。
　　Andtheywere！Asfastastheyreachedtheageoftwenty—fivetheybeganbearing。Eachofthem，likehermother，borefivedaughters。Presentlythereweretwenty—fiveNewWomen，Mothersintheirownright，andthewholespiritofthecountrychangedfrommourningandmerecourageousresignationtoproudjoy。Theolderwomen，thosewhorememberedmen，diedoff;
　　theyoungestofallthefirstlotofcoursediedtoo，afterawhile，andbythattimetherewereleftonehundredandfifty—fiveparthenogeneticwomen，foundinganewrace。
　　Theyinheritedallthatthedevotedcareofthatdecliningbandoforiginalonescouldleavethem。Theirlittlecountrywasquitesafe。
　　Theirfarmsandgardenswereallinfullproduction。Suchindustriesastheyhadwereincarefulorder。Therecordsoftheirpastwereallpreserved，andforyearstheolderwomenhadspenttheirtimeinthebestteachingtheywerecapableof，thattheymightleavetothelittlegroupofsistersandmothersalltheypossessedofskillandknowledge。
　　ThereyouhavethestartofHerland！Onefamily，alldescendedfromonemother！Shelivedtoahundredyearsold;
　　livedtoseeherhundredandtwenty—fivegreat—granddaughtersborn;livedasQueen—Priestess—Motherofthemall;anddiedwithanoblerprideandafullerjoythanperhapsanyhumansoulhaseverknown——shealonehadfoundedanewrace！
　　Thefirstfivedaughtershadgrownupinanatmosphereofholycalm，ofawedwatchfulwaiting，ofbreathlessprayer。Tothemthelonged—formotherhoodwasnotonlyapersonaljoy，butanation’shope。Theirtwenty—fivedaughtersinturn，withastrongerhope，aricher，wideroutlook，withthedevotedloveandcareofallthesurvivingpopulation，grewupasaholysisterhood，theirwholeardentyouthlookingforwardtotheirgreatoffice。
　　Andatlasttheywereleftalone;thewhite—hairedFirstMotherwasgone，andthisonefamily，fivesisters，twenty—fivefirstcousins，andahundredandtwenty—fivesecondcousins，begananewrace。
　　Hereyouhavehumanbeings，unquestionably，butwhatwewereslowinunderstandingwashowtheseultra—women，inheritingonlyfromwomen，hadeliminatednotonlycertainmasculinecharacteristics，whichofcoursewedidnotlookfor，butsomuchofwhatwehadalwaysthoughtessentiallyfeminine。
　　Thetraditionofmenasguardiansandprotectorshadquitediedout。Thesestalwartvirginshadnomentofearandthereforenoneedofprotection。Astowildbeasts——therewerenoneintheirshelteredland。
　　Thepowerofmother—love，thatmaternalinstinctwesohighlylaud，wastheirsofcourse，raisedtoitshighestpower;
　　andasister—lovewhich，evenwhilerecognizingtheactualrelationship，wefoundithardtocredit。
　　Terry，incredulous，evencontemptuous，whenwewerealone，refusedtobelievethestory。"AlotoftraditionsasoldasHerodotus——andaboutastrustworthy！"hesaid。"It’slikelywomen——
　　justapackofwomen——wouldhavehungtogetherlikethat！Weallknowwomencan’torganize——thattheyscraplikeanything——
　　arefrightfullyjealous。"
　　"ButtheseNewLadiesdidn’thaveanyonetobejealousof，remember，"drawledJeff。
　　"That’salikelystory，"Terrysneered。
　　"Whydon’tyouinventalikelierone？"Iaskedhim。
　　"HereAREthewomen——nothingbutwomen，andyouyourselfadmitthere’snotraceofamaninthecountry。"Thiswasafterwehadbeenaboutagooddeal。
　　"I’lladmitthat，"hegrowled。"Andit’sabigmiss，too。There’snotonlynofunwithout’em——norealsport——nocompetition;butthesewomenaren’tWOMANLY。Youknowtheyaren’t。"
　　ThatkindoftalkalwayssetJeffgoing;andIgraduallygrewtosidewithhim。"Thenyoudon’tcallabreedofwomenwhoseoneconcernismotherhood——womanly？"heasked。
　　"IndeedIdon’t，"snappedTerry。"Whatdoesamancareformotherhood——whenhehasn’taghostofachanceatfatherhood？
　　Andbesides——what’sthegoodoftalkingsentimentwhenwearejustmentogether？Whatamanwantsofwomenisagooddealmorethanallthis`motherhood’！"
　　WewereaspatientaspossiblewithTerry。Hehadlivedaboutninemonthsamongthe"Colonels"whenhemadethatoutburst;
　　andwithnochanceatanymorestrenuousexcitementthanourgymnasticsgaveus——saveforourescapefiasco。Idon’tsupposeTerryhadeverlivedsolongwithneitherLove，Combat，norDangertoemployhissuperabundantenergies，andhewasirritable。
　　NeitherJeffnorIfounditsowearing。Iwassomuchinterestedintellectuallythatourconfinementdidnotwearonme;andasforJeff，blesshisheart！——heenjoyedthesocietyofthattutorofhisalmostasmuchasifshehadbeenagirl——Idon’tknowbutmore。
　　AstoTerry’scriticism，itwastrue。Thesewomen，whoseessentialdistinctionofmotherhoodwasthedominantnoteoftheirwholeculture，werestrikinglydeficientinwhatwecall"femininity。"Thisledmeverypromptlytotheconvictionthatthose"femininecharms"wearesofondofarenotfeminineatall，butmerereflectedmasculinity——developedtopleaseusbecausetheyhadtopleaseus，andinnowayessentialtotherealfulfillmentoftheirgreatprocess。ButTerrycametonosuchconclusion。
　　"JustyouwaittillIgetout！"hemuttered。
　　Thenwebothcautionedhim。"Lookhere，Terry，myboy！Youbecareful！They’vebeenmightygoodtous——butdoyouremembertheanesthesia？Ifyoudoanymischiefinthisvirginland，bewareofthevengeanceoftheMaidenAunts！Come，beaman！
　　Itwon’tbeforever。"
　　Toreturntothehistory：
　　Theybeganatoncetoplanandbuiltfortheirchildren，allthestrengthandintelligenceofthewholeofthemdevotedtothatonething。Eachgirl，ofcourse，wasrearedinfullknowledgeofherCrowningOffice，andtheyhad，eventhen，veryhighideasofthemoldingpowersofthemother，aswellasthoseofeducation。
　　Suchhighidealsastheyhad！Beauty，Health，Strength，Intellect，Goodness——forthosetheyprayedandworked。
　　Theyhadnoenemies;theythemselveswereallsistersandfriends。
　　Thelandwasfairbeforethem，andagreatfuturebegantoformitselfintheirminds。
　　ThereligiontheyhadtobeginwithwasmuchlikethatofoldGreece——anumberofgodsandgoddesses;buttheylostallinterestindeitiesofwarandplunder，andgraduallycenteredontheirMotherGoddessaltogether。Then，astheygrewmoreintelligent，thishadturnedintoasortofMaternalPantheism。
　　HerewasMotherEarth，bearingfruit。Allthattheyatewasfruitofmotherhood，fromseedoreggortheirproduct。Bymotherhoodtheywerebornandbymotherhoodtheylived——lifewas，tothem，justthelongcycleofmotherhood。
　　Butveryearlytheyrecognizedtheneedofimprovementaswellasofmererepetition，anddevotedtheircombinedintelligencetothatproblem——howtomakethebestkindofpeople。Firstthiswasmerelythehopeofbearingbetterones，andthentheyrecognizedthathoweverthechildrendifferedatbirth，therealgrowthlaylater——througheducation。
　　Thenthingsbegantohum。
　　AsIlearnedmoreandmoretoappreciatewhatthesewomenhadaccomplished，thelessproudIwasofwhatwe，withallourmanhood，haddone。
　　Yousee，theyhadhadnowars。Theyhadhadnokings，andnopriests，andnoaristocracies。Theyweresisters，andastheygrew，theygrewtogether——notbycompetition，butbyunitedaction。
　　Wetriedtoputinagoodwordforcompetition，andtheywerekeenlyinterested。Indeed，wesoonfoundfromtheirearnestquestionsofusthattheywerepreparedtobelieveourworldmustbebetterthantheirs。Theywerenotsure;theywantedtoknow;
　　buttherewasnosucharroganceaboutthemasmighthavebeenexpected。
　　Weratherspreadourselves，tellingoftheadvantagesofcompetition：howitdevelopedfinequalities;thatwithoutittherewouldbe"nostimulustoindustry。"Terrywasverystrongonthatpoint。
　　"Nostimulustoindustry，"theyrepeated，withthatpuzzledlookwehadlearnedtoknowsowell。"STIMULUS？TOINDUSTRY？Butdon’tyouLIKEtowork？"
　　"Nomanwouldworkunlesshehadto，"Terrydeclared。
　　"Oh，noMAN！Youmeanthatisoneofyoursexdistinctions？"
　　"No，indeed！"hesaidhastily。"Noone，Imean，manorwoman，wouldworkwithoutincentive。Competitionisthe——themotorpower，yousee。"
　　"Itisnotwithus，"theyexplainedgently，"soitishardforustounderstand。Doyoumean，forinstance，thatwithyounomotherwouldworkforherchildrenwithoutthestimulusofcompetition？"
　　No，headmittedthathedidnotmeanthat。Mothers，hesupposed，wouldofcourseworkfortheirchildreninthehome;
　　buttheworld’sworkwasdifferent——thathadtobedonebymen，andrequiredthecompetitiveelement。
　　Allourteacherswereeagerlyinterested。
　　"Wewantsomuchtoknow——youhavethewholeworldtotellusof，andwehaveonlyourlittleland！Andtherearetwoofyou——thetwosexes——
　　toloveandhelponeanother。Itmustbearichandwonderfulworld。
　　Tellus——whatistheworkoftheworld，thatmendo——whichwehavenothere？"
　　"Oh，everything，"Terrysaidgrandly。"Themendoeverything，withus。"
　　Hesquaredhisbroadshouldersandliftedhischest。"Wedonotallowourwomentowork。Womenareloved——idolized——honored——keptinthehometocareforthechildren。"
　　"Whatis`thehome’？"askedSomelalittlewistfully。
　　ButZavabegged："Tellmefirst，doNOwomenwork，really？"
　　"Why，yes，"Terryadmitted。"Somehaveto，ofthepoorersort。"
　　"Abouthowmany——inyourcountry？"
　　"Aboutsevenoreightmillion，"saidJeff，asmischievousasever。
　　CHAPTER6
　　ComparisonsAreOdiousIhadalwaysbeenproudofmycountry，ofcourse。Everyoneis。
　　ComparedwiththeotherlandsandotherracesIknew，theUnitedStatesofAmericahadalwaysseemedtome，speakingmodestly，asgoodasthebestofthem。
　　Butjustasaclear—eyed，intelligent，perfectlyhonest，andwell—meaningchildwillfrequentlyjarone’sself—esteembyinnocentquestions，sodidthesewomen，withouttheslightestappearanceofmaliceorsatire，continuallybringuppointsofdiscussionwhichwespentourbesteffortsinevading。
　　Nowthatwewerefairlyproficientintheirlanguage，hadreadalotabouttheirhistory，andhadgiventhemthegeneraloutlinesofours，theywereabletopresstheirquestionscloser。
　　SowhenJeffadmittedthenumberof"womenwageearners"
　　wehad，theyinstantlyaskedforthetotalpopulation，fortheproportionofadultwomen，andfoundthattherewerebuttwentymillionorsoattheoutside。
　　"Thenatleastathirdofyourwomenare——whatisityoucallthem——wageearners？AndtheyareallPOOR。WhatisPOOR，exactly？"
　　"Oursisthebestcountryintheworldastopoverty，"
　　Terrytoldthem。"Wedonothavethewretchedpaupersandbeggarsoftheoldercountries，Iassureyou。Why，Europeanvisitorstellus，wedon’tknowwhatpovertyis。"
　　"Neitherdowe，"answeredZava。"Won’tyoutellus？"
　　Terryputituptome，sayingIwasthesociologist，andI
　　explainedthatthelawsofnaturerequireastruggleforexistence，andthatinthestrugglethefittestsurvive，andtheunfitperish。
　　Inoureconomicstruggle，Icontinued，therewasalwaysplentyofopportunityforthefittesttoreachthetop，whichtheydid，ingreatnumbers，particularlyinourcountry;thatwheretherewassevereeconomicpressurethelowestclassesofcoursefeltittheworst，andthatamongthepoorestofallthewomenweredrivenintothelabormarketbynecessity。
　　Theylistenedclosely，withtheusualnote—taking。
　　"Aboutone—third，then，belongtothepoorestclass，"
　　observedMoadinegravely。"Andtwo—thirdsaretheoneswhoare——howwasityousobeautifullyputit？——`loved，honored，keptinthehometocareforthechildren。’Thisinferiorone—thirdhavenochildren，Isuppose？"
　　Jeff——hewasgettingasbadastheywere——solemnlyrepliedthat，onthecontrary，thepoorertheywere，themorechildrentheyhad。
　　Thattoo，heexplained，wasalawofnature：
　　"Reproductionisininverseproportiontoindividuation。"
　　"These`lawsofnature，’"Zavagentlyasked，"aretheyallthelawsyouhave？"
　　"Ishouldsaynot！"protestedTerry。"Wehavesystemsoflawthatgobackthousandsandthousandsofyears——justasyoudo，nodoubt，"hefinishedpolitely。
　　"Ohno，"Moadinetoldhim。"Wehavenolawsoverahundredyearsold，andmostofthemareundertwenty。Inafewweeksmore，"
　　shecontinued，"wearegoingtohavethepleasureofshowingyouoverourlittlelandandexplainingeverythingyoucaretoknowabout。
　　Wewantyoutoseeourpeople。"
　　"AndIassureyou，"Someladded，"thatourpeoplewanttoseeyou。"
　　Terrybrightenedupimmenselyatthisnews，andreconciledhimselftothereneweddemandsuponourcapacityasteachers。
　　Itwasluckythatweknewsolittle，really，andhadnobookstoreferto，else，Ifancywemightallbethereyet，teachingthoseeager—mindedwomenabouttherestoftheworld。
　　Astogeography，theyhadthetraditionoftheGreatSea，beyondthemountains;andtheycouldseeforthemselvestheendlessthick—forestedplainsbelowthem——thatwasall。Butfromthefewrecordsoftheirancientcondition——not"beforetheflood"withthem，butbeforethatmightyquakewhichhadcutthemoffsocompletely——theywereawarethattherewereotherpeoplesandothercountries。
　　Ingeologytheywerequiteignorant。
　　Astoanthropology，theyhadthosesameremnantsofinformationaboutotherpeoples，andtheknowledgeofthesavageryoftheoccupantsofthosedimforestsbelow。Nevertheless，theyhadinferred（marvelouslykeenoninferenceanddeductiontheirmindswere！）theexistenceanddevelopmentofcivilizationinotherplaces，muchasweinferitonotherplanets。
　　Whenourbiplanecamewhirringovertheirheadsinthatfirstscoutingflightofours，theyhadinstantlyaccepteditasproofofthehighdevelopmentofSomeWhereElse，andhadpreparedtoreceiveusascautiouslyandeagerlyaswemightpreparetowelcomevisitorswhocame"bymeteor"fromMars。
　　Ofhistory——outsidetheirown——theyknewnothing，ofcourse，savefortheirancienttraditions。
　　Ofastronomytheyhadafairworkingknowledge——thatisaveryoldscience;andwithit，asurprisingrangeandfacilityinmathematics。
　　Physiologytheywerequitefamiliarwith。Indeed，whenitcametothesimplerandmoreconcretesciences，whereinthesubjectmatterwasathandandtheyhadbuttoexercisetheirmindsuponit，theresultsweresurprising。Theyhadworkedoutachemistry，abotany，aphysics，withalltheblendswhereasciencetouchesanart，ormergesintoanindustry，tosuchfullnessofknowledgeasmadeusfeellikeschoolchildren。
　　Alsowefoundthisout——assoonaswewerefreeofthecountry，andbyfurtherstudyandquestion——thatwhatoneknew，allknew，toaveryconsiderableextent。
　　Italkedlaterwithlittlemountaingirlsfromthefir—darkvalleysawayupattheirhighestpart，andwithsunburnedplains—
　　womenandagileforesters，alloverthecountry，aswellasthoseinthetowns，andeverywheretherewasthesamehighlevelofintelligence。Someknewfarmorethanothersaboutonething——
　　theywerespecialized，ofcourse;butallofthemknewmoreabouteverything——thatis，abouteverythingthecountrywasacquaintedwith——thanisthecasewithus。
　　Weboastagooddealofour"highlevelofgeneralintelligence"
　　andour"compulsorypubliceducation，"butinproportiontotheiropportunitiestheywerefarbettereducatedthanourpeople。
　　Withwhatwetoldthem，fromwhatsketchesandmodelswewereabletoprepare，theyconstructedasortofworkingoutlinetofillinastheylearnedmore。
　　Abigglobewasmade，andouruncertainmaps，helpedoutbythoseinthatpreciousyearbookthingIhad，weretentativelyindicateduponit。
　　Theysatineagergroups，massesofthemwhocameforthepurpose，andlistenedwhileJeffroughlyranoverthegeologichistoryoftheearth，andshowedthemtheirownlandinrelationtotheothers。Outofthatsamepocketreferencebookofminecamefactsandfigureswhichwereseizeduponandplacedinrightrelationwithunerringacumen。
　　EvenTerrygrewinterestedinthiswork。"Ifwecankeepthisup，they’llbehavinguslecturetoallthegirls’schoolsandcolleges——
　　howaboutthat？"hesuggestedtous。"Don’tknowasI’dobjecttobeinganAuthoritytosuchaudiences。"
　　Theydid，infact，urgeustogivepubliclectureslater，butnottothehearersorwiththepurposeweexpected。